Skip Directly To:

Location

Situated on the Canadian border in northern New York State, St. Lawrence County offers the ideal setting for the growth and development of your business. We offer exceptional transportation facilities, low commercial power rates and the immediate availability of fully serviced industrial sites and buildings. Additionally, our proximity to major markets in the Northeastern United States and in the Montreal-Toronto corridor of Canada gives you easy access to supplies, company headquarters and customers.

Area: 2,685 square miles

Weather

Mean Daily Temperature:
January 18° F
July 70° F

Local Utilities

Niagara Mohawk Power Corp.
Offers negotiated flexible electric rates for many types of new businesses, negotiable gas transportation rates and fixed rate gas discounts.

Massena Electric Department
Offers negotiated flexible electric and fixed rate electric discounts for many types of new businesses and negotiable firm gas transportation service. The only municipally-owned utility in the County, Massena Electric provides electric service to Massena and portions of surrounding townships.

St. Lawrence Gas Company
Provides natural gas services to the communities of Canton, Gouverneur, Heuvelton, Lisbon, Madrid, Massena, Norfolk, Norwood, Ogdensburg, Potsdam, Raymondville and Waddington. In addition, the St. Lawrence Gas Company has co-generator projects in Gouverneur and New Brennen.

Population: 111,931

Potsdam 15,957
Massena 13,121
Ogdensburg 12,364
Canton 10,334
Gouverneur 7,418

Workforce

Labor Force 50,500
Households 40,506
Median Household Income $32,356
Per Capita Income $15,728
Median Home Sales Price $64,962

Market Access

The County’s border location offers advantages for companies serving markets in both the United States and Canada. Canadian companies serving the US market appreciate the ease of access to the branches and subsidiaries they have located in St. Lawrence County.

Education

Five colleges and universities enroll over 10,000 students, including three colleges operated by the State University System. Clarkson University is home to the State’s Center for Advanced Technology in Advanced Materials Processing.

Clarkson University, Potsdam 2,978
St. Lawrence University, Canton 1,983
SUNY College of Technology, Canton 2,278
SUNY College at Potsdam 4,562
SUNY College of Environmental
Science & Forestry, Wanakena 100

Empire Zones

There are New York State certified “Empire Zones” for economic development in Ogdensburg and Potsdam. To foster business development, in some cases Empire Zone benefits are extended beyond historical contiguous boundaries to other locations.

10 Largest Employers

ALCOA
St. Lawrence County
Clarkson University
United Helpers Organization
St. Lawrence-Lewis BOCES
St. Lawrence University
Claxton-Hepburn Medical Center
St. Lawrence NYSARC
Canton-Potsdam Hospital
SUNY Potsdam

Transportation

St. Lawrence County is connected to US Interstate 81 via New York State Routes 11 and 37. Immediate access to CDN Highways 401 and 416 is provided via bridge crossings in Ogdensburg and Massena.

There are two commercial airports providing air service in the county, with regional and international air hubs located within one to two hours in Ottawa, Montreal and Syracuse.

The Ogdensburg Bridge and Port Authority owns two shortline railroads that are operated by a private contractor d/b/a the New York and Ogdensburg Railway Company. This railroad serves the Port of Ogdensburg and connects with CSX, thus providing total intermodal service for industries of Northern and Central New York, as well as Eastern Ontario, Canada.

The Foreign Trade Zone (FTZ) qualified Port of Ogdensburg provides large sea vessels with access to the Great Lakes and world ports.

Quality of Life

From the scenic wonder of the St. Lawrence River to the reflective solitude of the Adirondack wilderness, the diverse geography of St. Lawrence County provides recreation enthusiasts and their families a paradise of year-round adventure. The large number of streams, rivers and lakes in the county make it a haven for all types of fishermen in any season. During the winter months, enjoy ice-skating at one of the local arenas or lakes, downhill and cross-country skiing at nearby resorts or snowmobiling on marked trails throughout the county. The summer months find people swimming, picnicking or simply enjoying the warm summer days. Campgrounds, hiking trails, biking paths and boating facilities abound.

St. Lawrence County’s unique location takes advantage of both the Thousand Islands and the Adirondack regions. The Massena-Cornwall International Bridge and the Ogdensburg-Prescott International Bridge each afford a spectacular view of the St. Lawrence River and provide easy passage between the United States and Canada. Eighteen museums and art galleries, including the world-renown Frederick Remington Art Museum, an excellent library system, an established crafts community, and professionally and locally produced theater are just some of the reasons why St. Lawrence County has earned its reputation as an important cultural center.

Lake Placid, site of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics, and the metropolitan areas of Ottawa and Montreal are within a two-hour drive. In addition, four major colleges within the area offer a range of academic, cultural and recreational opportunities seldom found in non-metropolitan areas.

More Information

Further demographic information on St. Lawrence County is available in the St. Lawrence County Profile Section I and Section IV.